Reciprocating pump



Feb. 24, 1942.

F. R. slMMs E-rm.

RECIPROCATING PUMP Feb. 24, 1942.

n F. R. slMMs AE-rAl.'

RECIPROCATING -PUMP A Filed Maye, 194C Feb. 24, 1942. F. R. SIM'MS EmRECIPROCATING PUMP Filed May 6, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ElGM.

Flc'. le,A Flc'msl Flchzo F' I 620A.

a1 l Halal.

d Patented Feb. 24,

UNITED --`srAT1a si PATENT oFFlcE 2.21am Y' asclrnncs'rmc rum' Fresa-ickmelma simmgmnaonfsna nemm- Charies Joy, Bogner Regis, Engiand summon mis, im: serial Nssasvs 1n ogm prima July 14, 193s 8 Claims. '.(Cl.103-75) 'I'his invention is for improvements in or relatyingtoreciprocating pumps fordealing with liquids, and has for its object theprovision of such a pump which while possessing the simple char--acteristics of a diaphragmvpump is distinguished from the usual forms-thereof in that both the inlet and the outlet of the pump are open inthe sense of being devoid of valves.` As is known, valves, whether inthe inlet or the outlet of the diaphragm pump, tend to complicate the.construction and cause restriction of liquid flow through the pump,giving rise to slip." Also, in

the course of time. valves in these pumps are" liable, owing to wear, toreduce the eiiiciencyof -the pump. Furthermore.l with the valvelessdiaphragm pump of this invention, no reversal of ilowtakes place anddelivery of liquid from the .v pump is continuous.

According to the present invention thereis provided a diaphragm pump fordealing with liquids,

comprising a pump chamber having van-inlet and an outlet for liquid inthe walloi' the chamber v ture for carrying the in which' the diaphragmis indicated in four diswhich are both free in the sense of being devoidof valves, adiaphragm extendingsubstantially across the pump chamberbetwen the-inlet 4and,

the outlet, which diaphragm is reciprocatable 'in a direction transverseto its general plane and has at its periphery a iiexible portion'whi'cliis free and is arranged, in-ccniunction with a seating provided tovcooperate with it on the wall of the chamber, to serve, by sealing with.the seating during the suction stroke of the diaphragm and moving awayfrom it under the pressure, of

now of the liquid through the pump during the return stroke, as thevalve means of thefpump, Y the pump being otherwise valveless and beingdesigned to operate under conditions involving a s'uiiicient mass andvelocity of liquid flowing to and/or fromvthe pump chamber by. way of asupply pipe and/or (as the lcase may be) a delivery pipe for' the liquidto provide the pressure of iiow referred to, and means for reciprocatingthe diaphragm.

Therefore, the pump which is provided by this invention is a valveless,diaphragm pump and, as will be appreciated, it is only capable of deal-4ing with liquids, that is. substantially incomj constructed inaccordance vention,

- .cordancewith the pre'sent invention pres'sible -uids, since itsaction is dependent on v a suiiicient pressure of now of the liquidthrough the pump, derived from the kinetic energy of the ilowingliquidtherein. to open. and maintain onen. the ible portion of the diaphragmduring the whole of the return (non-suction) stroke thereof, thusdispensing with the need of valves in the pump.

between-the 'seating and the flex-VVV inlet andl an loutlet,

tion of the downstroke. A

Figure 5 illustrates a pump constructed accord- 'll illus moving in thereverse direction.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which: 2

Figures l; 2,. 3 and 4 I,illustrate a suitable strucinvention intoeffect. and

tinct positions wherein, v

Figure l shows the diaphragm at the commencement oi the upstroke,

Figure 2 shows the diaphragm at tle midstroke position of the up stroke.

Figure 3 shows the diaphragm at the midstroke position of the downstroke and, Figure 4 shows the diaphragm at the terminasuitable for theing to the present invention and delivery of fuel to a petrol enginefloat chamber p and in which the diaphragm is operated by a against theacti/on oi a spring, .'FigureoisanendviewofFigure,

Figure 'I illustrates a cam operable to produce a quick transfer periodand a prolonged suction and delivery period,

, Figure 8 illustrates a manually operated pump with theV prentinconstructed -in acin which both the plates partiallyl supporting thediaphragm and the'interior of the pump are given a stream line eilectinV order to ensurean easy passage of a liquid through the pump.

Figures 10 and 10A are fragmentary sectional views showing a portion ofa pump chamber including means for 'eifectively controlling the -freeedge of the diaphragm Figure 9 illustrates a pump to thepresentinvention. I

by the pressure creat` and the outlet side thereof when the l ws' adouble hamper pump 20A illustrate variousy types of diaphragms which canbe employed in connection with the present i invention,

Figures 14 and 18 being fragmentary plan views, Figures 14A, 15, 16, 17,18, 18A, 19 and 20A being sectional views, and

Figure 20 being a plan view,

Figure 21 illustrates a pi' np intended for use with large volumes ofliquid, which pump is provided with a series of diaphragms actingsimultaneously to pump liquid from the inlet to the outlet side of thepump.

Figure 22 is asectionalview on the line 22-22 of Figure 21, showing theuse of sector-shaped diaphragms and sector-shaped coacting ports in thatform of the invention illustrated in Figure 21, l

Figure 22A is a sectional view also taken on line 22-22 of Figure 21,lshowing the use of circular or disc-like diaphragms and circularcoacting4 ports in that form of the invention illustrated in Figure 21,and

Figures 23 and 23A are fragmentaryv sectional views illustrating acurved seating for the periphery of the diaphragm which has been foundto give very satisfactory results, these two gures showing the diaphrgmin two positions.

In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated'a pump inits simplest form, which pump comprises a pump chamber I built up of twohalf sections 2 and 3, the-'section I, hereinafter termed the suctionsection, having a centrally arranged inlet '4 connected to a supply pipe5, whilst the section 2, hereinafter termed the outlet section, has acentral guide 6 arranged to receive'a spindle IV operable to reciprocatein the said guide and also an outlet 8 to which is connected a dischargeor delivery pipe 9. Mounted upon the spindle 'l is a flexible diaphragmI which is maintained rigid for a predetermined portion of its area byplates Il and vI2 placed on either side thereof, whilst the periphery I3of the diaphragm is free to yieldin a direction transverse to the planethereof; The

periphery I3 ofthe diaphragm III is'notsecured 4to a casing as is usualybut is free and is arranged to engage with a shoulder or seating I4provided upon the suction section 3 of the pump chamber I so as to forma seal therewith.`

The operation of the pump is believed to be as follows:

Assuming both sections 2 `and 3 of the pump chamber I and the pipes 5and 9 tobe lled with 'liquid and assuming the diaphragm III to be in itslowest position as indicated in Figure l, then upward movement of thediaphragm and its attached parts 1, II and I2 to, say, amid-strokeposition as indicated in Figure 2, will cause liquid to be drawn up thesupply pipe 5 into the suction section 3 and, at the same time, will cause liquid contained in the "outlet section 3 to be forced into thedelivery pipe a. Meanwhile the periphery of the diaphragm Iii will beDressed on to the seating M by the pressure in the outlet section 2dueto the prevailing head of liquid and by the negative pressurein thesuction section 3 due to the suction head. In this manner a liquid sealis formed. These conditions prevail until the termination of theup-stroke at which period a considerable velocity has been imparted tothe columns of liquid in both the suction pipe 5 and the delivery pipe9. Thus, as soon as the 5 diaphragm and its attached parts commences t0descend on a down-stroke, not only by this action is liquidtransferred'from the suction section 3 to the outlet section" 2 past theflexible edge of the diaphragm, but the kinetic energy of the liquid inthe supply pipetemporarily converted to pressure energy-assisted by theaction of the liquid in the delivery pipe, which tends to evacuate theoutlet section 2. causes a further ow of liquid from the suction sectionto the outlet section. 'I'hese operations are assisted by the largetransfer passage provided by the separation of the diaphragm edge fromits seating, which passage may have an area many times greater than thearea of the suction or discharge pipe. It will be noted that in theconstruction o f that form of our present invention illustrated in Figs.1 to 4 inclusive, as well as in allother forms illustrated and describedherein, the position of the seating Il between the outlet and "suctionchambers 2 and 3, respectively, and the length of the upward anddownward strokes imparted to the diaphragm I0, are such that the centralportion of the diaphragm III is moved to positions both. above and belowthe'plane of said seating I4.

Figure 3 indicates approximately the position of the diaphragm and theflow of liquid at about mid-stroke position vof the down-stroke, thediaphragm continuing .to permit the passage of liquid until thetermination of the down-stroke as shown in Figure 4 and on thecommencement of the upfstroke-Figure l--when the diaphragm immediatelyfalls on to its seating, partlyl by the resistance of the liquid aboveit and partly by by an upward movement of the diaphragm plates. as wellas by the natural elasticity of the diaphragm itself which tendstoassume its normal at'shape.

It will be realised that' at suitable speed of reciprocation of themoving parts, the ow of liquid in the discharge Vpipe is substantially,if not absolutely, continuous and alsothat the diaphragm forms anexcellent liquid seal against leakage when the pump is standing idle.

Thus. it will be apparent that according to the construction outlined inFigures 1, 2, 3 and 4, there is provided a pump in which valvescontrolling the inlet and outlet thereof may be eliminated and in whichthe passage of the liquid from the inlet side of the diaphragml to theoutlet side thereof is controlled by the iiexible periphery of the saiddiaphragm so that with the exception of the vreciprocatable diaphragm,it is not essential to the' operation of the pump to provide it with anyother movable. members,

which fact renders the manufacture of the pump f a simple andinexpensive procedure l'which lends itself, when desirable, to theemployment of articial resins.

Referring to Figures 5.and` 6. like numerals indicate like parts tothose ,indicated in Figures i, 2, 3 and d, but it will be observed thatthe spindle 'il is operated by an eccentric i@ carried upon a rotatableshaft the eccentric being arranged to engage with a pivot/ed levert??which bears upon the tree end it of the spindle if, 'The eccentric I5 isarranged to move the spindle i against the action of a spring I9 whichis dis- 5 posed between a shoulder 23 on the pump'chamthe vacuoustendencybeneath it brought about II and I2 of the diaphragm are givenspect ofthe pumps illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, except insofaras the spring I9 effects ythe delivery and suction stroke.Any'resistance in the delivery pipe, such as would be due to restrictionpast the needle valve of a float chamber, operates against the actionlof the spring `and automatically vdiminishes the stroke of the pump.

,Figure 'lillustrates a cam for operating rthe spindle 1 of the pumpillustrated in Figures and 6, by means of whlch'the suction and deliveryperiod is arranged tooccupy three-quarters of each revolution `of theshaft I6 whilst the period of the transfer of liquid from the inlet tothe outlet side of the diaphragm 'occupies one-quarter of the completerevolution of the shaft.

Referring to Figure 8, there is illustrated therein a pump operating onexactly the same principle as the pump illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3and 4,-but in the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 8 thespindle 1 is arranged to be operated by a hand lever 22 pivotallyconnected in a yoke 23 formed on the free end of the spindle. The lever22 is arranged vto fulcrum on `a. link 24 pivotally connected to a lug25 formed on the pump chamber I.

Figure 9 illustrates a pump constructed in accordance with the presentinvention in which the interior of the-pump chamber and the plates astream line contour in order to offer a. minimum of resistance to thepassage of a liquid through the pump' Figures 10 andflOA are twofragmentary sectional views of a portion of a pump chamber designed foruse in connection with -the present invention and in which radiallydisposed ribs 26 are arranged to -extend into the outlet section 3 ofthe pump chamber I so as ment of the periphery '|3301 the diaphragm IIIwithout restricting the ilow.

Figure 11 illustrates a double-chamber pump in which two diaphragms arearranged on the tolimit the upward move-- lng a thin iiexible edge toassist the transfer of same spindle but in planes parallel toone anfother and are operable in two distinct pump chambers arranged side byside, each chamber,

having its own suction and delivery pipe. Such a pumpY may be utilisedfor dealing with two liquids of different character or for pumpingliquid under different suction and delivery heads at the same time.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate pumps constructed in accordance with thepresent invention in i which two diaphragms are arranged in planes v.

parallel to one another and are disposed vin the same pump chamber. Thediaphragms are operable simultaneously to pump liquid from the sameinlet and out of the same outlet, the'purpose of the' two diaphragmsbeing to ensure av perfect seal between the peripheries I3 and theshoulders fil when the pump is idle and the diaphragnis are in theposition in which communication between the inlet andoutlet sides of thedia` phragms is sealed.' In this construction, if one diaphragm suffersdamage, the other is still available for use.

Figures14, 14A, l5, 16,

1v, 18.18A, 19,20 and lparallel peripheries,

pable of employment with the pump illustrated- -in Figure 13.

Asisting of two rubber vwherein the flexibility the liquid pumped.

Figure 15 ,illustrates a diaphragm having a beaded edge and canvasinsertion.

Figure 16 illustrates a diaphragm which is dished so 'as to increaseflexibility. K

.Figure 17 illustrates a diaphragm having two such a diaphragmbeing ca-Figures l'and 18A illustrate a diaphragm con to -a spring steel disc 30having radial slots 3l formed therein so as to add to the flexibility ofthe outer portions of the diaphragm, such a diaphragm being ofparticular utility in cases where high pressures are involved.

Figure 19 illustrates a diaphragm with a vulcanite or metal centre 32and an outer rubber portion- 33 vulcanised to the centre, such adiaphragm requiring no backing plates and being of cheap construction.If necessary, the diaphragm can be made of rubber throughout :but

increases from substantial rigdity at the centre to the desiredflexibility atthe periphery. r

Figures I20 and 20A illustrate a diaphragm which is' oval in shape andwhich may be used in a pump which has to be employed in a narrowelongated space. All the diaphragm or any parts thereof previouslydescribed may be provided with canvas insertions or vstrengthened withwoven wire or may be strengthened in any desired'way, for example, bysheet metal or the like or by theflexible portion of the diaphragm beingvulcanised upon a suitable harder material dependent dealt with, itbeing generally understood that the lower the viscosity of the liquidemployed vthe stiffer must be the diaphragm. Although the peripheries ofthe diaphragm illustrated rare shown as being continuous, it is to beunderstood that'a series of radial slots may be formed at the peripheryso as to lessen the non-sealing effect of any obstruction which mayoccur between the periphery of the diaphragm and the seating therefor. Y

`Figure 21 illustrates a pump in which a series of diaphragms isarranged in the same plane on a "deck so as to engage at theirperipheries I3 with shoulders I4 formed around the peripheries of holesformed in a plate which extends between ports are for the reason ofspace economy shown 20A illustrate various constructions of diaphragmswhich. can bel employed with pumps with tiles-presentnconstructed inaccordance vention. f

Figures 14 and 14A illustrate a diaphragm havsector-shaped as in Figure22, but the saidfdiaphragms and their coacting ports may be circular asiuustrated in Fig. 22A.

It must be stated that in the case of all the pumps described' `theseating provided `for the diaphragm must be rendered very smoothso thatthe diaphragm may slide freely thereon when the pump is working, andthat in all of the pump constructions described and illustrated herein,

the position of the seating-vll between the outlet" and suctionchambers, and'the length of the upward and downward strokes imparted todiscs 28 and!! vulcanised upon the liquid whichis to bel between saidinlet tion of the diaphragm described, as well as in the suction ordelivery pipe, or

case of the inlets and outlets b/ oi both, the dimensions must becontrolled so as to allow the kinetic energy of the liquid in the pumpand pipe system to assist the cycle of operation of the pump to becarried out eectively in the manner described, but such matters arequestions of design, as is also the ratio of the litt of the'diaphragmto the size ci the discharge passage between the inlet and outlet sidesof the diaphragm. Thus it is to be understood that the structure of thepump may be such as to include a passage, for example, a spiral orhelical passage; long enough to hold a column, or part of a column, of-liquid sufficient to ensure, in all circumstances, that the necessarykinetic energy is produced to `eiiect the eiiicient operation of thepump.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A pump for liquids comprising a pump casing, a pump chamber withinsaid casing having spaced inlet and outlet passages, said passages beingdevoid of valves; a seating `within saidv chamber between said inlet andoutlet passages; a reciprocable diaphragm within said chamber v andoutlet passages acting as a combined piston and valve and dividing thepump chamber into a suction section in communication with the inletpassage and an outlet section in communication with the outlet passage,said diaphragm having a central portion and a free and iiexibleperipheral portion, said peripheral portion adapted to engage saidseating during the power stroke of thediaphragm when the diaphragm isdrawing liquid into the suction section through the inlet passage andsimultaneously forcing liquid from the outlet section through the outletpassage, and to move away from said seating during the return stroke ofthe diaphragm under the pressure of the now of the liquid through thepump toI permit e of the liquid from said suction section'to saidoutletsection; and means for reciprocating said diaphragm, the position ofsaid seating with respect to the suction and outlet chambers, as well'asthe length of the reciprocating movements im parted to the diaphragm,being such that the central portion or said diaphragm is moved topositions both above and below said seating as said diaphragm isreciprocated.

2. A pump .for liquids as defined in claim 1 wherein the inlet passageis of sumcient length to insure, by the kinetic energy of the liquidnowing through said passage, the necessary pressure of ow of liquid uponthe free and'ilexible porduring the return stroke of the diaphragm tocause the said free and nexible portion to move away from the 3. A pumpfor liquids as deilned in` claim l wherein the outlet passage is toinsure, by the kinetic energy. of. the liquid owing through saidpassage, the necessarypressure of ilow of liquid upon the free andilexible portion of the diaphragm during the. return stroke y of thediaphragm to cause the' said free and nexible portion to move away fromthe seating.

4. A pump for liquids as dened in claim l wherein theinlet pe and theoutlet passage of suflicient length 'the inlet passage and oi thediaphragm during the return stroke of thev the said free andflexiblediaphragm to cause portion to move away from the seating.

5. A pump for liquids comprising a pump casing; a pump chamber withinsaid casing having spaced inlet and outlet passages, said passages beingdevoid of valv a plurality of seatings within the pump chamber arrangedinl parallel spaced relation'between the inlet and outlet. passages; aplurality of reciprocable diaphragms dispod coaxially within the pumpchamber be'- tween said inlet and outlet pamages, each of saiddiaphragms adapted to cooperate with one of said seatings and to act asa combined piston and valve, said diaphragms dividing the pump chamberinto a suction section in communication with an outlet section incommunication with the outlet passage, each of said ing during the powerstrokes of the diaphragms when lthe diaphragms are drawing liquid intothe suction section through the inlet passage and simultaneously forcingliquid from the outlet section through the outlet passage, and to moveaway from its cooperating seating during the return strokes of-thediaphragms under the pressure of fiow of the liquid through the pump topermit passage of the liquid from the suction seetion to the outletsection of the pump chamber; and means for simultaneously reciprocatingsaid plurality of diaphragms.

6. A pump for liquids comprising a pump cas- I a pair of separate andindependent pump chambers disposed in axial alignment within saidcasing, each chamber having an inlet passage and an outlet passage, saidpassages being devoid of valves; a seating within each pump chamberlbetween the inlet and outlet passages therein,

' the seatings in each of the pairs of chambers bei the inlet and outletpassages therein acting as a combined piston and valve and dividing eachpump chamber into a suction section in communication with the inletpassage in the chamber and an outlet section in communication with theoutlet e in the chamber, each of said diaphragms having a free andflexible peripheral portion adapted to engage its cooperating seat-` ingduring the power strokes of the diaphragms when said diaphragms aredrawing liquid into the respective suction sections through the inlet esand simultaneously forcing liquid from the respective outlet sectionthrough the outlet es, and to move away from its cooperating seatingduring the return strokes of the dia-A Dhraglns under the pressure offlow of the liquid through the pump to permit passage of the liquid fromthe respective suction sections to the respective outlet sections: acommon operating spindle connected to each of the plurality ofdiaphragms for effecting alternate and successive power and returnstrokes to the diaphragmswithin the respective chambers of each pair ofpump chambers whereby each pair of pump chambers and their cooperatingdiaphragms constitute a double-acting pump; and means for reciprocatingsaid common operating lspindle.

7. A pump for liquids comprising a ).ump casing; a pump chamber withinsaid casir-.g having "spaced inlet and outlet passages therein, saidpassages being devoid of valves; a plurality of spaced seatings withinsaid chamber between said inlet and outlet passages; a plurality ofspaced reciprocable diaphragms within said chamber be- -tween said inletandoutlet passages each acting as a combined piston and valve and saiddiaphragms dividing the pump chamber into a suc- -tion section at oneside of the diaphragms in A.communication with the inlet passage and anoutlet section at the opposite side of the diaphragms in communicationwith the outlet'passage, each of said diaphragms having a free andflexible peripheral portion adapted to engage one of the seatings during-the power strokes of the diaphragms when the diaphrag'ms are drawingliquid into the suction section through the inlet passage andsimultaneously forcing liquid from the-outlet, section through theoutlet passage, and to'move away from its cooperating seating during-thereturn strokes of the diaphragms under the pressure of ilow of liquidthrough the pump to permit passage of the liquid from the suctionsection to the outlet section; a common operating spindle connected tothe plurality of.

diaphragms for eecting tandem operation of said diaphragms within saidpump chamber; and means for reciprocating said common operating spindle.

8. A pump for liquids comprising a pump casspaced inlet and outletpassages, said passages being devoid of valves; apartition within saidchamber between the inlet and outlet passages and having a plurality ofopenings therein; a

plurality of reciprocable diaphragms within said chamber, one of saiddiaphragms overlying each of the openings in said partition and eachacting asa combined piston andvalve,said partition and diaphragmsdividing the pump chamber into ajsuction section in communication withthe inlet passage. and an outlet section in communication with .theloutlet passage, said diaphragms positioned on that side of saidpartition adjacent the outlet section of the chamber and each having afree and ilexible peripheral portion adapted to engage a portion of thepartition wall surrounding one of the openings in said partition duringthe power strokes ofthe diaphragms when said diaphragms are drawingliquid into-the suc tion section through the inlet passage andsimultaneously forcing liquid from the outletsecing; a pump chamberwithin said casing having ltion through the outlet passage, and to move

